2027 Kia Seltos: Rugged geometry meets digital elegance | Design Commentary

The new, second-generation Kia Seltos successfully elevates its design and styling from an elegant crossover aesthetic to that of a bolder, more architectural SUV.

Kia made the public debut of its all-new, second generation Seltos SUV today, simultaneously in India and other global markets. The Korean automaker appears to have no qualms in offering extroverted and extreme styling language in its latest cars. The new Seltos, presenting a blended design philosophy of overt modernity and ruggedness, has evolved into a noticeably larger and more upright, commanding SUV.

Before we move into the design and styling based analysis of the new car, let’s get certain basic facts straight. The new Kia Seltos underpins the brand’s latest K3 platform, with a noticeably stiffer and highly insulated body shell for enhanced safety and comfort. It adopts a body design and styling language akin to the brand’s EV line-up, both inside and out.

The car has gained a bigger dimensions and higher ride height than its predecessor, but carries forward the same 1.5-litre petrol (NA/ turbo) and diesel engine options for the Indian market. Transmission options include 6-speed manual/ iMT, 6-speed auto (TC) and a 7-speed DCT automatic. Bookings commence from tomorrow in India, with detailed pricing of the variant expected on January 2 next year.

Extroverted styling

The new Kia Seltos is almost unrecognizable, frankly because the new design is more than what we had imagined. The SUV moves away from a serene flowing design to a more square and upright structure, thereby presenting a bold and muscular stance than its predecessor. The squared-off roofline and bulkier silhouette, combined with increased dimensions, contribute to voluminous road presence and butch looks.

Inspired from the styling cues of the latest Kia Telluride SUV, the Seltos a ‘digital’ face with an expansive, edge-to-edge and detailed grille. Integrated with the glossy-black grille is the intricate “Star Map” lighting elements, a radical styling element in this car, especially the vertical, signature LED element that gives it a distinct character. The tail lamps also echo this theme, augmented with a ‘U’ effect over the rear.

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Over the sides, the diagonal character lines, strong shoulder contours, and a floating roofline offers a dynamic silhouette to the car. The use of glossy black wheel cladding and the chunky 18-inch Crystal Cut alloy wheels elevate the side profile of the Seltos.

The rear design, on the other hand, is pretty much contained and refined. The windshield area is futuristic, with the rear wash wiper neatly integrated into the spoiler. The robust front and rear skid plates, finished in dark gunmetal, anchor the design to its SUV origins, amplifying a tough and confident character.

Tech-rich interior design

The interiors of the new Kia Seltos is completely overhauled and significantly upscale. A low, horizontal dashboard presents a sense of openness, in addition to enhanced forward visibility. Smart positioning of seats and cabin elements hint at generous headroom and legroom for all occupants. The new 3-spoke steering wheel with all essential controls looks simply great.

The column-type Shift-by-Wire (SBW) system frees up the center console, offering better functionality and ergonomics. The centerpiece is the seamless 30-inch integrated digital cockpit that merges the driver’s display and the infotainment screen into one sweeping interface, inspired by the Kia EV9. This reduces visual clutter, creating a calmer, driver-focused space.

The chosen smoky black and white two-tone interiors with white accents and leather seating is fresh and premium. There is a balance of digital and physical controls, especially for dual-zone climate control, for ease of use. The 64-color ambient mood lighting and the dual-pane panoramic sunroof are top-notch elements that is sure to impress buyers.

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On the whole, the second-generation Kia Seltos successfully elevates its design and styling from an elegant crossover aesthetic to that of a bolder, more architectural SUV. This is sure to impress a wide range of buyers, giving an edge to the product over its fierce competitors such as the new Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq and so on. The car is also